Mystery surrounds calf and lamb losses

[treesparrow]

Mystery surrounds pregnancy scanning results, which show potentially devastating numbers of calf and lamb losses on UK farms.

Livestock producers face early lambing losses as high as two-thirds on some farms, suggest initial results. Many scanners are reporting barren ewes, failed pregnancies or dead foetuses. Cattle losses are almost as bad in some places.

There is a "strong suspicion" that the Schmallenberg virus could be to blame, say some vets. But other causes, such as poor nutrition following a year of extreme wet weather, have been cited by other vets and animal health experts.

John Barnes, a scanner in the north east of England, told Farmers Weekly he had recorded problems in about two-thirds of 10,000 ewes across 80 flocks. One farm later tested positive with the Schmallenberg virus, which can cause death and deformity in unborn livestock.

Cattle scans revealed up to 50% of 4,000 cows scanned were showing either empty or with dead calves.

Other operators have begun to report similar problems as scanning gets into full swing ahead of next spring's lambing season.

In the West Midlands, scanner Phil Preece reported anomalies in about a third of 8,000 early lambing ewes examined so far this year. Mr Preece said it was a "real one-off" and he had not experienced results like it in 14 years of scanning

Both men said they had spoken to other scanners who reported similar issues.

It is not known if these cases are linked to the Schmallenberg virus, but flocks at highest risk from the virus would have been those tupped in late summer or early autumn when midge activity was at its highest.

Two flocks in the south of England with embryonic losses have been reported to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) with results revealing ewes had been exposed to the Schmallenberg virus.

David Harwood, veterinary investigative officer for the AHVLA, Hampshire, said there was a "strong suspicion" the virus and losses were linked, but said there was no scientific evidence to back it up.

Independent sheep vet Paul Roger was more cautious about the virus link. Poor nutrition or other infections could be the cause, he suggested.

"The problem is just because it is happening this year people may say it is Schmallenberg, but that's not necessarily the case. There are other infections that can cause losses, such as toxoplasmosis, border disease and bluetongue."

He advised farmers to get individual diagnostics done to pinpoint the exact causes of the problem. "It is really important for the individual business and the country so we know where the disease is."

Mr Roger said it was too early to predict the effect losses may have on lambing crops next year, but a promised Schmallenberg vaccine meant there was "hope on the horizon".

_http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/22/11/2012/136364/Farmers-speak-out-about-worrying-livestock-losses.htm

If the C's are right about viruses and bacteria arriving with that comet mentioned a few sessions ago (about 2 years ago?) could it be that some comet borne viruses are involved here? If viruses are now falling through the atmosphere perhaps domesticated animals kept out in open terrain might be the first to suffer. Speculative, I know but I thought I'd just throw it out there.

 

[Horseofadifferentcolor]

Mystery surrounds pregnancy scanning results, which show potentially devastating numbers of calf and lamb losses on UK farms.

Livestock producers face early lambing losses as high as two-thirds on some farms, suggest initial results. Many scanners are reporting barren ewes, failed pregnancies or dead foetuses. Cattle losses are almost as bad in some places.

There is a "strong suspicion" that the Schmallenberg virus could be to blame, say some vets. But other causes, such as poor nutrition following a year of extreme wet weather, have been cited by other vets and animal health experts.

John Barnes, a scanner in the north east of England, told Farmers Weekly he had recorded problems in about two-thirds of 10,000 ewes across 80 flocks. One farm later tested positive with the Schmallenberg virus, which can cause death and deformity in unborn livestock.

Cattle scans revealed up to 50% of 4,000 cows scanned were showing either empty or with dead calves.

Other operators have begun to report similar problems as scanning gets into full swing ahead of next spring's lambing season.

In the West Midlands, scanner Phil Preece reported anomalies in about a third of 8,000 early lambing ewes examined so far this year. Mr Preece said it was a "real one-off" and he had not experienced results like it in 14 years of scanning

Both men said they had spoken to other scanners who reported similar issues.

It is not known if these cases are linked to the Schmallenberg virus, but flocks at highest risk from the virus would have been those tupped in late summer or early autumn when midge activity was at its highest.

Two flocks in the south of England with embryonic losses have been reported to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) with results revealing ewes had been exposed to the Schmallenberg virus.

David Harwood, veterinary investigative officer for the AHVLA, Hampshire, said there was a "strong suspicion" the virus and losses were linked, but said there was no scientific evidence to back it up.

Independent sheep vet Paul Roger was more cautious about the virus link. Poor nutrition or other infections could be the cause, he suggested.

"The problem is just because it is happening this year people may say it is Schmallenberg, but that's not necessarily the case. There are other infections that can cause losses, such as toxoplasmosis, border disease and bluetongue."

He advised farmers to get individual diagnostics done to pinpoint the exact causes of the problem. "It is really important for the individual business and the country so we know where the disease is."

Mr Roger said it was too early to predict the effect losses may have on lambing crops next year, but a promised Schmallenberg vaccine meant there was "hope on the horizon".

_http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/22/11/2012/136364/Farmers-speak-out-about-worrying-livestock-losses.htm

If the C's are right about viruses and bacteria arriving with that comet mentioned a few sessions ago (about 2 years ago?) could it be that some comet borne viruses are involved here? If viruses are now falling through the atmosphere perhaps domesticated animals kept out in open terrain might be the first to suffer. Speculative, I know but I thought I'd just throw it out there.

It could be virus or disease catching up with bad nutrition. It might also be new cellphone towers or GMO feeds. Who knows but the numbers of dead unborn and other issues are alarming . I really wish all these mass animal stories would find answers rather than just wild speculations and never look any further. Thanks for posting Treesparrow. I think that what you said could be true for those animals lacking in health to begin with, including humans.

 

[treesparrow]

Schmallenberg could kill up to a third of lambs in infected flocks

Farmers could lose a third of lambs in flocks infected with the deadly schmallenberg virus, according to a new study.

The virus, that first arrived in the UK last year and causes lambs to be born dead or deformed, is set to spread to most flocks this lambing season.

Infection does not necessarily mean all lambs will die but early research suggests that death rates could be high.

Data collected by students from the Nottingham Vet School show that average losses could be as high as 30 per cent on some severely affected holdings.

Last year the virus was recorded on around 1,000 farms and hundreds of animals died.

This year more than 200 farms have recorded outbreaks so far. More than 20 farms have seen deformed lambs in Wales and flocks in England have recorded losses up to 40 per cent

Dr Rachael Tarlinton, a registered veterinary surgeon and an expert in virology, said there are likely to be more losses as the lambing season takes off.

“Things aren’t looking good for this year’s sheep farmers. We are already seeing a lot of reports of abnormalities in the early lambing stock, as well as ewes requiring caesarean births. If the ewe can’t lamb or has been damaged too much it is kinder, from an animal welfare point of view, to euthanase the ewe as well. It is a grim picture.”

There is also concern about the virus spreading to more cattle herds, killing caives.

Once a sheep or cow has been infected they will develop immunity, so gradually British farms will build up resistance. It is only when a mother is infected when she is pregnant that is causes death and deformity.

There are also hopes for a vaccine.

Until then Dr Tarlinton said farms will have so suffer.

“It is likely the virus is here to stay. Because the midges are all over Europe, the virus will eventually settle down to be endemic. When this happens we hope that most animals will be infected in their first year of life before they get pregnant and can build up immunity. Most cattle and sheep in the area where the virus was first identified have had it. It is assumed that they are now immune and won’t have another affected lamb. We are concerned about the animals that were infected after being mated in autumn last year.”

_http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9816263/Schmallenberg-could-kill-up-to-a-third-of-lambs-in-infected-flocks.html

 

[treesparrow]

Livestock virus found on 1,500 farms
By Helen Briggs BBC News

A virus that causes stillbirths and birth defects in lambs and calves has spread to more than 1,500 UK farms, new government figures show.

Cases of Schmallenberg have now been reported in all the counties of England and Wales, and in Northern Ireland.

Scottish farmers are on alert for the disease, which is carried by midges.

Some farms have suffered heavy losses of newborn lambs during the winter lambing season.

The latest figures from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency show the virus has been detected on 1,531 farms, in cattle, sheep, alpacas and goats.

Schmallenberg figures

January 2012: 11 farms
February 2012: 83 farms
August 2012: 276 farms
November 2012: 715 farms
December 2012: 976 farms
January 2013: 1,211 farms
February 2013: 1,531 farms

Joanne Pugh of the National Sheep Association told BBC News: "It's incredibly high impact for the flocks that have had it and had massive losses.

"But as an overall picture across the whole sheep flock it's a low impact disease."

She said the effect of Schmallenberg (SBV) on individual farms could be devastating, causing much hardship for farmers.

"It's never been a more important time to buy British," she added.

Several animal health bodies, including the National Sheep Association, are trying to gather more data on SBV from the farming community.

The existing data is considered to be a vast underestimate as SBV is not a notifiable condition and there is only limited testing of animals.

A vaccine for SBV is being developed but has not yet been approved for use in the UK.
lamb Ewes infected in pregnancy can give birth to malformed lambs

The Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) said it was considering data on the vaccine but it was not possible to provide an indication of when it might be authorised.

"The VMD recognises the impact on individual animals and farmers a disease such as Schmallenberg can have," it said in a statement.

"The VMD will operate timelines for the remaining stages of consideration of the application mindful of this while ensuring, through our rigorous scientific assessment process, that proper care is taken to ensure that any vaccine is safe for the relevant livestock. "
Wild animals

SBV is spread by biting insects, including midges and mosquitoes.

It takes its name from the German town where it was first identified in 2011.

The disease causes fever, reduced milk yields and loss of appetite in adult cattle.

It can also lead to birth defects and stillbirths in newborn sheep, cattle and goats.

The virus can also infect wild animals, including deer, according to scientists.

Video report (with horrifying graphic content) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21609335